Bio: Zimmermann, Hon. Ernst C. (1857 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Zimmermann, Wheeler, Farnham, Wilson, Marshall, Rowley

----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Zimmermann, Hon. Ernst C. (31 August 1857 - 19??)

The public and private career of this gentleman furnishes a striking example that a young man without pecuniary means can still make an honorable career in life, if he has the industry, integrity and intelligence, coupled with the perseverance needed to accomplish that result. E. C. Zimmermann came from the city of Eau Claire, where he had been in an insurance office, and started out in the same business for himself after coming to Wausau in 1878. For two years he conducted it alone, meanwhile becoming acquainted and making friends by his gentlemanly bearing. Having shown his capacity to succeed in business, he accepted an offer of H. L. Wheeler, an old established insurance man, to associate with him and the firm of Wheeler & Zimmermann became the leading insurance firm in the city and county. Later he was offered and accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Marathon County Bank, the oldest banking institution in the county, soon afterwards was made cashier, and has been in that capacity now for twenty years. This bank was founded by J. A. Farnham as the Bank of the Interior in the early years of Marathon County, and always has been a sound and safe institution.

Ever since coming into manhood, E. C. Zimmermann has acted with the Democratic Party politically and has been frequently pressed into service, always giving a good account of him and served with distinction in every trust imposed upon him. He was twice elected as supervisor, representing his constituency in the city council as well as in the county board, and at the expiration of his term was elected as mayor of the city twice, in 1888 and 1889, and again elected to that important position in 1904. He had the honor of being named as an elector at large on the Democratic national ticket in 1908, and was elected as an elector for the Eighth Congressional District of Wisconsin in 1912 on the Wilson and Marshall ticket, the only Democratic elector from Marathon County who ever cast a vote directly for a Democratic president.

His fidelity to every trust imposed in him is evidenced by the fact of his frequent elections to positions all of which exact integrity and accuracy in keeping and accounting of funds. He is treasurer of the Marathon County Agricultural Society, treasurer of the Humane Society, treasurer of the Wausau Children's Infirmary, and a number of other societies. He still holds an interest in the insurance business of Zimmermann & Rowley, and is financially interested in other enterprises. His public service also covers years as member of the board of education of the city of Wausau and as a member of the board of trustees of the public library.

He was elected president of the Wisconsin State Bankers' Association, and vice president of the American Bankers' Association, lately held in Denver, Colo. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the fraternity of Odd Fellows, being a trustee of Wausau Lodge 215 and for two years was the state representative of the latter organization to the Sovereign Grand Lodge when the sessions were held in Toronto, Can., and St. Paul, Minn.

Mr. Zimmermann was born in Germany. August 31, 1857, and is a son of Frederick and Beatrice (Schulz) Zimmermann. He came with his parents to the United States in 1869 and for the first year after arrival they lived at Waterloo, Wis., and then removed to the city of Eau Claire, where they subsequently died. He was married December 26, 1881, to Miss Minnie Marth, of the town of Hamburg in Marathon County, and three children were born to them to bless their union: Beatrice, who is a teacher in the high school in Wausau; Olga, another daughter, who resides at home; and Alfred, who is in the insurance business with his father. The latter was married to Miss Lora Harris, of Rochester, N. Y., and they have one daughter, Elizabeth. E. C. Zimmermann and his family are members of the St. Paul's Evangelical Church congregation of Wausau, rendering much aid to the several societies connected with this church.